Question by Reptar88: Copyright question for Documentary filmmakers?
I am making a documentary film that I would eventually like to submit to a film festival. There are some photos from Google of people and bicycles from the 1880s-1900, including a video taken from YouTube of Edison’s bicycle film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZjd9pBmLoU from 1901. As a documentary filmmaker presenting the “facts”, do I need permission to use these for my film? Would I be violating any copyright laws if I were using them for my film considering it’s “fair use” that I’m using these images & video to educate on the history of the bicycle?
Best answer:
Answer by Caoedhen
Using Google as your source may be an issue. The photos are old, and may not be copyrighted any longer. Using a Youtube video on the other hand, could be a problem.
Making a movie with other persons work is not “fair use”, no matter that you claim it to be an educational film.
You need to do some reading here: http://www.copyright.gov
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